In a non-playing accident that happened overnight, a player for the Utah squad competing in the Little League World Series in Pennsylvania was critically injured.
After falling off the top bunk of a bed early on Monday morning, a 12-year-old kid from Utah who will represent his team in the Little League World Series required emergency surgery for a severe head injury.
Easton Oliverson, a pitcher, and outfielder for the Snow Canyon team from Santa Clara, Utah, collapsed in a dorm in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and sustained a brain injury. He was subsequently flown to a pediatric hospital in the state, where he is now receiving intensive care.
Spencer Beck, Easton Oliverson’s uncle, told the Salt Lake Tribune that Eastern Oliverson “went through pretty traumatic surgery to get to where he’s at, but the doctors are all really positive, All of the steps moving forward have been good so far.”
Oliverson was initially awake but, according to the team’s coach Kyle Hafen, his condition deteriorated over time. More testing won’t be performed until Oliverson’s brain swelling subsides, Doctors says.
In a team statement, they have hope for his recovery. In a statement released Tuesday, they said they spoke with the Oliverson family and “were pleased to hear that his medical team remains encouraged by his progress.”
Oliverson’s father, Jace, is an assistant coach on the team. Jace urged Hafen not to let the other players’ attention be diverted by his son’s injuries because he wants the squad to continue competing.
“We’ve worked too hard to get to this point,” Hafen said his assistant coach told him.
The team also stated that coaches had taught the team to keep playing ever since the club’s founding.
“While our hearts are heavy we are committed as a team and have an opportunity to take part in something that is only dreamt about by others,” the statement said. “We teach our players to do everything with a purpose, that hasn’t changed, it has perhaps been added too with something far greater than ever.
The first Utah club to advance to the Little League World Series was Santa Clara.
